Data Mining and System Effectiveness

Introduction:

The Office of Technology Evaluation (OTE) evaluates the effectiveness of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) export control system through the following:

Controlled Trade Trend Analyses

OTE analyzes U.S. export data from the Automated Export System (AES) and BIS license application data to more fully inform export policy decisions on Commerce Control List (CCL) items which have both a civilian and military or proliferation-related use. This includes examining licensed, license exception, and unlicensed AES transactions subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and scrutinizing BIS approved, denied and returned license applications. OTE also uses the findings from its analysis to educate industry at AES seminars on proper reporting of items subject to the EAR in the AES (see BIS/Census AES Compliance Training).

Competitiveness Evaluations

OTE analyzes the economic impacts that export controls are having on U.S. exporters and technology sectors. This involves determining the utilization rates of export licenses and the correlation between export control administration and shipments against licensed items. It also involves studying export trends in advanced technology items subject to a license requirement to determine the impact that export controls are having on U.S. competitiveness (e.g., export growth, market share) vis-a-vis other U.S. trading partner countries.